Members of Saeima’s Economic, Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee supported amendments to the Handling of Alcoholic Beverages Law, stating that small breweries would be allowed to use products grown only in Latvia.
With amendments it is planned to define that small breweries are private persons or businessmen that produce wine, fermented beverages, and other kinds of alcoholic beverages using products grown in Latvia, as reported by Saeima’s press-service.
It is also planned to establish that in cases when the owner of the brewery is a private person, it will be allowed to procure products from first-degree relatives or spouse if they grow the needed products in their garden or apiary in Latvia. This opportunity will be available for businessmen if one of their members, whose relative or spouse owns a garden or apiary, have owned no less than 35% of capital shares at least nine months before signing the procurement contract, the Saeima adds.
“Changes to the law will help strengthen the concept of a family business without increasing bureaucracy. It will also ensure that products were made using berries and fruits picked or cultivated in Latvia,” explains chairman of Saeima’s commission Romans Naudins.
Currently regulations state that to receive a license for warehouse keeper operations and registration of insurance of excise duty, small breweries using relaxed conditions will be allowed to produce alcoholic beverages using fruits and berries either cultivated in their garden or picked in the wild. Current regulations allow renting land in foreign countries and use products cultivated there to produce alcoholic beverages in Latvia.
Amendments to the law have to be reviewed by the Saeima in the second and third readings. (BNN/Business World Magazine)